An Iranian court has barred a vice president and ally of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from holding office for "violations" in a previous job, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Saturday, in a blow to the president. Hamid Baqaie, one of eight vice presidents and seen as particularly close to Ahmadinejad, was banned from public office for four years by an administrative court, Fars reported. It said Baqaie intended to appeal.
"In a news conference today (Baqaie) was asked about the sentence handed down by the court and he confirmed it," Fars said.